红领巾瓜报

 
Students working on white board

Learn to ask for help

Successful students recognize that they do not need to do it all alone. Seek out guidance and help from staff, faculty, advisors, and your peers.

"When the instructor offers you office hours, that is for you. Get pass the fear of talking to them; your instructor is also just another person. Discuss your struggles you are facing within the course. The information you gather from them is different from a classroom setting. It is tailored to you. Your instructor is there to help you learn your way."

-Rex, Adult Learning Student

How to reset and refocus from setbacks*

Know your strengths

It鈥檚 human nature to want to correct weaknesses. But knowing your strengths and how to use them effectively can have a much more substantial effect on success and well-being. So how can you reframe your thinking? According to Deb Levy, the field of positive psychology offers many useful tools. One in particular鈥攖he  from VIA Institute on Character鈥攃an help you gauge your strengths and weaknesses. The test ranks users鈥 character strengths from strongest to weakest, allowing for an objective view into where you excel and where you may need work. Making a plan to bolster weaknesses while remaining conscious of strengths can be a great strategy to ensure not just academic success, but personal fulfillment.

Set specific goals

Achieving your goals depends heavily on how well you can manage your time. Levy stresses that the best goals are specific, personal, and flexible.

Prioritize happiness

Feeling good about what you鈥檙e doing and why you鈥檙e doing it is the best way to ensure success. According to Levy, happiness often leads to success, but success on its own may not lead to happiness. As such, prioritizing your own wellness is key to reaching your goals. Levy says well-being consists of positive emotions, engagement, meaning, and achievement.

Be resilient

Even with a good plan, obstacles will arise. How well you deal with those obstacles depends on your perspective...鈥淕ive yourself permission to be human,鈥 Levy says. 鈥淧redict you鈥檙e going to make mistakes.鈥 One way to build resilience is by preparing for obstacles with implementation intentions, which are if鈥搕hen plans designed to help people achieve goals. Setting these intentions gives you a default answer that helps you stick to your plan without having to deliberate or make a snap decision.

Make time to recover

As a student, you may sometimes fall into a 鈥渟tretch zone,鈥 where you鈥檙e extending yourself to accommodate for different obligations. Periods of stress can actually be positive and motivating if they expand your perception of what鈥檚 possible. But it can lead to chronic stress when you don鈥檛 build in time to recover. Taking breaks, setting aside time for meals, and enjoying recreation can help fuel you and keep you on course to achieve your goals.

*Source:

Mindful Exercises

Box Breathing

Box Breathing

Feeling overwhelmed or stressed? Box breathing is a great way to help you deal with it. You can do this exercise anytime and anywhere. It's really effective in calming your mind and body, so you can reset your mindset. Give it a try!

  • Step 1: Breath in, counting to four slowly
  • Step 2: Hold your breath for four seconds
  • Step 3: Slowly exhale through your mouth 
  • Step 4: Repeat steps 1-3 until you feel recentered
Grounding technique

Grounding Technique

A great way to feel more present and in the moment is by practicing the grounding technique. This technique can really come in handy when you're dealing with distractions, difficult emotions, or feelings of anxiety and stress.

Working backwards from 5, use your senses to list things you notice around you:

  • 5 things you see
  • 4 things you can feel
  • 3 things you can hear
  • 2 things you can smell
  • 1 thing you can taste

 

focusing tips

Focus & Eliminate

As someone who's juggling many responsibilities, it can be hard to find time to focus on your academic learning. Developing a strategy to avoid distractions and stay on track might be a helpful approach for you.

  • Go-to study bag with school supplies & snacks
  • Maintain good posture
  • Have designated study areas
  • Consider lighting choices
  • Turn off your phone during set study periods
infinity breathing

Infinity Breath 

This technique can help you unwind and become more mindful by simply breathing intentionally. Give it a try and you may notice a reduction in anxiety.

  • Draw an infinity sign or number eight on its side.
  • With your fingertip, start at the center of the infinity symbol
  • Inhale, and move your finger toward the right side
  • Exhale as you move your finger to the left side
  • Repeat until your body feels calm and relaxed
Ask for help, not because you are weak, but because you want to remain strong.
Les Brown

Initiate your own academic growth*

Attempt the work

First, you must attempt the work. Even if it feels painful and you鈥檙e sure you won鈥檛 succeed, you have to try. It helps professors immeasurably to see exactly where a student is getting stuck, plus you鈥檒l gain points for taking initiative.

Break it down

Get down to the exact point that you鈥檙e struggling to understand. The most unsuccessful office hours are the ones in which a student walks in and says, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 understand any of this!鈥 Chances are you understand the basics of a concept or the first few steps of a problem. In fact, you probably know more than you think! Understand where it all unravels, and take time to figure out the simplest way to explain that to your professor.

Create a list of questions

Now that you鈥檝e pinpointed exactly where you need help, it鈥檚 time to create your list of questions. Coming to office hours with a written list of questions ensures you get the help you need without getting sidetracked. Don鈥檛 worry about sounding stupid or asking questions that are too simple. It鈥檚 far worse to struggle through a class because you missed a basic concept than to simply ask the right question.  

Walk through your list of questions with your professor

Ask each of the questions you wrote down, one by one. Don鈥檛 be afraid to take your time. Your professor is obligated to be there to answer student questions during their office hours. (Of course, this gets harder during midterms or finals season when professors have more students to see鈥攚hich is another reason to ask for help early!)

Follow through on your professor's advice

Last but not least, follow through on all the advice your professor gives you. In some cases, it might feel tempting to go back to doing what鈥檚 comfortable. However, this isn鈥檛 going to push you to learn something new. Step out of your comfort zone and follow the steps the professor laid out for you.

*Source:

 

Self Care Tips

Selfcare Ideas

As a busy student with many responsibilities, it's crucial to prioritize self-care. One way to make this happen is by setting a reminder on your phone to recharge both your mind and body. Always make time to do something that brings joy to your life.

  • Take a bath or shower
  • Listen to your favorite tunes
  • Write in a journal
  • Take time to be outdoors
  • Stretch or do yoga poses
  • Have a warm beverage
  • Treat yourself to a favorite snack
  • Watch a movie or TV episode
  • Connect with a supporting friend